March 26, 2007

Gold Nuggets: Doll Man vs. The Baseball Bandits

The Obscure Adventures of Comics' Greatest Generation!

What could be worse than baseball being used for evil? Why, with Opening Day a mere six days away, how could anyone commit such borderline blasphemy to The Great American Pastime? Good thing the Doll Man was on the case!

Created in 1939 by the legendary Will Eisner (of Spirit fame), chemist Darrell Dane developed a formula that allowed him to shrink to a height of 6 inches while still retaining his normal-size strength....making him the first of a number of shrinking superheroes (as far as I can tell).

In Doll Man #13 (Quality Comics, 1947), Spade Solenko and his prison baseball team escape and commit baseball-themed crimes all over town...leaving it up to the Bare-Legged Wonder's pistol-packin' prowess to strike 'em out (click on the panels for a super-sized view):

It should be noted that a common (and disturbing) theme running through Doll Man's Golden Age career was how often he was subdued and tied-up. This adventure was no exception, as the Baseball Bandits eventually get the best of the Tiny Titan, duct tape him to a baseball bat, then lob baseball grenades at him!

Of course, Mr. Dane eventually escapes and takes out the rest of the gang...but not before losing whatever remaining crumbs of dignity the six-inch adult man might have possessed.